Racing
League
Rugby
Football
Cricket
Golf
Sport Nation
Motorsport
Netball
Basketball
Combat Sports
Olympics
Other Sports
Find your frequency'New Zealand Rugby has taken the appropriate step': Sports law expert weighs in on Chiefs name protection
Sport Nation •  October 14th, 2026 3:48 pm
Waikato Chiefs | Photo: Photosport
Amongst an All Black season and Rugby League World Cup campaign, attention has been turned to the NRL and New Zealand Rugby, who are in a legal battle over the new Papua New Guinea 'Chiefs' NRL franchise.
The launch of the latest NRL team is set to be held next week, but New Zealand Rugby is seeking an interim injunction to prevent the NRL franchise from using the name 'Chiefs', for the time being.
Tavendale + Partners sports lawyer Henry Moore has outlined why the Kiwi organisation has taken this issue to court.
"There's a reason why there's the right to trademark. It's because you want to protect your marks, so they can be names, they can be logos. The Chiefs, from what I understand, they've trademarked the word 'Chiefs' and their logo," Moore told Sport Nation Afternoons.
Jarome Luai (centre) heads up the PNG Chiefs early all-star signing list | Photo: Susie Dodds/AAP
"They do that to protect the territory of New Zealand from other businesses using the same word, the same logo, the same brand in a competing market, which could create confusion for fans, commercial partners as to what that brand's associated with.
"The whole reason why you trademark names, logos, marks, is to protect it so that other people can't take advantage of it and dilute the market and/or harm the reputation or the brand that you have within that particular class.
"So New Zealand Rugby has taken the appropriate step," he shared
He also explained why the injunction is so urgent and where it the case could potentially end up.
"The reason why they've applied for an interim injunction or urgent interim injunction is because of NRL's announcement that the team will be confirmed by name and licensing and merchandising products will be released to market.
"So they need an interim in junction to ensure that that doesn't happen in the short term.
"Then they will go to a full hearing, if it gets that far, and New Zealand Rugby will apply for a permanent injunction, which means that if that injunction is successful, there will be a permanent ban on whatever the order says, but assuming a ban on NRL, using the 'PNG Chiefs' name in New Zealand."
Waikato Chiefs | Photo: Peter Meecham/AAP
The sports law expert believes NZR would have preferred to keep the issue as an internal discussion.
"New Zealand Rugby won't have wanted to go to the High Court over this. They would have hoped that there was a sensible compromise, whatever that might have looked like.
"New Zealand Rugby have trademarked it for a reason. They have every right to attempt to enforce that trademark.
"That's what the courts are there to do, to make a decision as to who on the evidence, is right, whether or not New Zealand Rugby can stop the PNG Chiefs from coming to New Zealand, or whether PNG Chiefs can play in New Zealand because there isn't enough of a connection between the two brands."
Listen to the full interview below:
